By Burnett Munthali
At the heart of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s Southern Region rally held on Sunday, 18th June 2025, at Desert Ground in Bangwe, was a sharp warning directed at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and its conduct ahead of the 2025 elections.
The rally, which drew thousands of supporters, became a platform for the party’s senior officials to question the integrity of the electoral body, particularly surrounding its engagement with Smartmatic, a controversial elections technology provider.
Taking centre stage was DPP National Organizing Secretary Honourable Sameer Suleiman, who did not mince his words when addressing what he described as “suspicious conduct” by MEC.
Honourable Suleiman, who is also the party’s shadow MP for the Bangwe area, issued a stern ultimatum, giving MEC ten days to open up Smartmatic’s systems for a full audit.
He declared that failure to do so would trigger a series of mass demonstrations, which the DPP would lead in conjunction with other opposition parties.
Suleiman’s remarks, delivered to a roaring and attentive crowd, signaled the beginning of a confrontational stance by the DPP towards MEC as the 2025 electoral clock ticks louder.
Not to be outdone, DPP Regional Governor for the South, Honourable Charles Mchacha, echoed Suleiman’s concerns with even more fiery language.
Mchacha warned that the party would “shut down the country” if transparency is not enforced within MEC, a statement that drew thunderous approval from the crowd.
His remarks amplified the rally’s combative tone and underlined the party’s readiness to take its grievances to the streets.
In his closing address, DPP Vice President for the Southern Region, Honourable Joseph Mwanamvekha, reinforced the call for public mobilisation.
He encouraged Malawians to rise and defend their democratic rights by joining the movement for electoral accountability.
Mwanamvekha’s appeal wrapped up the rally on a defiant note, underscoring the party’s view that the upcoming elections must be free from manipulation.
The calls for an audit of Smartmatic reveal growing distrust in MEC’s handling of electoral preparations, a theme likely to dominate political discourse in the coming months.
The DPP’s threats of mass action reflect both their internal momentum and their strategy to position themselves as defenders of democracy ahead of 2025.
This unfolding tension sets the stage for potential political unrest, should MEC fail to adequately address transparency concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society.
As the ten-day ultimatum ticks down, all eyes are now on MEC and how it will respond to this mounting pressure.
